Being a freshman is overwhelming, to say the least. Advice comes at you from every direction – friends, family and especially online. Blogs like Her Campus and BroBible feature huge networks of collegiate contributors. These sources give important information, but they won’t clue you in on the most important fact of freshman year: nothing is going to prepare you for college like experiencing college yourself.

One of the best ways to become accustomed to life at Syracuse University is to participate in campus traditions. We are held together as a university by our traditions. New students are in a position to enjoy all these experiences with classmates. Students not from the area, or even not from the United States, will get a chance to expose themselves to a completely new environment with these customs.

Fall at Syracuse brings stunning leaf changes, sports, tailgating and more. The Carrier Dome comes alive with the roar of an ‘Express’ train after every touchdown. During the fall semester you’ll learn about our fight song, the Legend of No. 44 (it’s so serious we changed our zip code for it) and the fact that everyone looks better in orange. Another tradition is getting into the channels of the outer walls of the Dome and stomping – “dome stomping.” It creates a thundering, echoing sound that never gets old.

Syracuse winters are brutal, beautiful and award-winning. As recently as 2014, Syracuse was named the country’s snowiest major city. Every year, you’ll see students in makeshift sleds, like dining hall trays, careening down the hill of Crouse College. Winters here are long and hard but it will warm up, and when it does, spring has an entirely different set of traditions to look forward to, including concerts, comedians and our annual campus-wide party – Mayfest.

Some traditions even extend beyond the borders of campus. From Aug. 27 through Sept. 7 this year, the annual New York State Fair takes place 5 miles away from campus. Not only does the fair give you the chance to see butter sculptures and try homemade regional foods (all hail the salt potato), it’s a great way to learn about the spirit of New York state and the industries that support it.

No amount of advice is going to neatly wrap up freshman year in a box. For many students, living on campus will be the first time being outside of the sphere of their parents’ decisions. Nearly every freshman will experience fear, nervousness, joy and success this year.

The idea of ‘fitting in’ at a school as large and diverse as Syracuse is a ridiculous one. There is no “one way” to be while you’re here. The first few months here are important, but they’re not a test that determines ultimate success. Use this time to meet like-minded individuals, and people you absolutely disagree with. The fact that each and every student shares in the university’s long-standing traditions means that you already have something in common with every person in this thousands-strong incoming class.

Zhané Souter is a senior broadcast journalism major and forensic science minor. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at zisouter@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @zhanesouter.

Published on August 25, 2015 at 11:55 pm